During this period, Yosuganosora Animation Studio developed rapidly. More and more animation staff joined, improving the company's production system. Because of this, Kamiyā Yuu had no choice but to purchase another mid-sized office building nearby.
Busy days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was time for 'RWBY' to officially premiere worldwide. Kamiyā Yuu booked tickets for the third week after release, wanting to experience watching his own work in a movie theater.
'RWBY'
"An acclaimed overseas animated film! A masterpiece of animation you cannot miss in your lifetime! Winner of twenty major awards, including the British Media and Animation Awards, Oscar Golden Statue Nomination Award, American Animation Innovation Award, Lens and Art, and American Media Best Director Award! Hailed as the greatest animated film of the twenty-first century!"
"Creator Mr. Kamiyā Yuu is a Japanese-Chinese creator who was once invited onto Tokyo TV's program 'Words of Celebrities.' His terrifying talent has been praised by industry peers as 'God's Wisdom'! He is practically the Kirigami Ruri of the animation world!"
"Strongly recommended by an eighty-two-year-old veteran animation director of the once nationally famous anime 'Furious Dragon'!"
"A different fantasy world! The fiercest clash between darkness and light! And the ones who stand forth are... four beautiful girls!"
"The Japanese have completely lost their minds!"
Kamiyā Yuu nearly spat blood when he saw the promotional slogans hanging on the cinema building wall. Fortunately, only Kamiyā Sora was beside him at the moment. Otherwise, he truly would have wanted to crawl into a hole.
These promotional lines were truly full of... Japanese style.
Holding Kamiyā Yuu's right arm, Kamiyā Sora subtly turned her face away as though suppressing laughter and whispered:
"Yuu, you're a man with divine wisdom."
"Can we please just let this topic pass?" Kamiyā Yuu awkwardly scratched his hair.
Kamiyā Sora smiled brightly and said playfully:
"Isn't it fine? It's praise. It means Yuu has talent ordinary people can't compare to."
"That may be true, but I wish they could choose their words more carefully and normally. Forget the rest, I don't want to be given some ridiculous title like Imperial Tiger."
Kamiyā Yuu laughed helplessly, flicking Kamiyā Sora's forehead to stop the topic from continuing.
Today was a day off. Since 'RWBY' had officially begun screening worldwide, they planned to review the work they had created together in a theater.
Although Kamiyā Yuu was very unused to exaggerated and chūnibyō-style promotion, Japanese audiences happened to respond extremely well to this approach. Combined with the high quality of the 'RWBY' animated film, it had already caused quite a stir in Japan's ACG circles.
The theater was packed. Most of the audience consisted of young people. Many wore excited expressions, and occasionally, one could hear people who had already watched the animated film praising and discussing it.
Kamiyā Yuu and Kamiyā Sora exchanged a smile. After finding their couple's seats, they sat down and quietly waited for the film to begin.
Watching a movie on a computer and watching it on a big screen were completely different experiences.
Soon, the soft lights dimmed. What appeared on the big screen was a scene and line Kamiyā Yuu knew very well.
"Legend is the trace left behind when humanity sings praises to the great heroes of history."
Inside an old, dilapidated wooden cabin, an unseen elder spoke slowly in a hoarse, aged voice. In her hands, a yellowed and worn paper book slowly opened.
Sketches gradually appeared on the rough pages, then became more tangible and real as the camera pushed deeper.
The elderly voice continued in a self-mocking tone:
"People are always excessively eager to discuss their stories, longing for an ending where justice defeats evil. Perhaps it is simply because they live in such a world, and their unease forces them to seek that tiny bit of light from these heroic tales to comfort themselves."
Solemn, vast music surged forward, blending with the elder's aged, hoarse voice to create a heavy sense of history.
The dark world depicted on the screen filled everyone with suffocating pressure. Just the opening alone silenced all whispers in the theater. The audience stared wide-eyed as they were slowly drawn into a fantasy world where darkness and light existed together.
...
Clap, clap, clap~!
Clap clap clap clap clap clap~!
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Do not misunderstand. This was absolutely not any kind of wicked sound, but the thunderous applause from the audience after the movie ended.
The film had brought them an unprecedented visual feast. In particular, the battle scenes in the middle repeatedly made the audience cry out in excitement.
'RWBY's combat system truly stirred the deepest hot-blooded passion within men. Every punch felt solid and direct, paired with gunfire sounds almost entirely recorded from actual firearms.
A continuous fight sequence lasting more than ten minutes nearly sent the male audience in the theater over the edge. Japanese audiences were usually known for their manners, yet during this screening, many could not help standing up and clenching their fists.
"How was it? I didn't recommend it wrong, did I? That was seriously satisfying! That battle scene felt completely different from watching it on a computer! It was insanely cool!"
A young man stood up excitedly and threw several punches at the air in front of him.
A female office worker seated in front of Kamiyā Yuu commented with lingering excitement:
"Even though it's an animated film, it was surprisingly good!"
"Ruby! Ruby! Ruby!"
From some corner, a group of hardcore fans had already begun chanting Ruby's name. Anyone unaware of the situation might think this was an idol group performance.
"Ahhh~~ I forgot to eat my popcorn..."
A young male office worker stared blankly at the full bucket of popcorn in his hands. His attention had been completely on the film, and he had forgotten he was holding it.
"Cool!"
After the film ended, a male student was so stirred up that he could not help raising his arm and shouting in the noisy theater.
"Please let me through! Please let me through! I can't hold it anymore! I need the restroom!"
Quite a few audience members had endured it for more than two whole hours, and only now did they hurriedly push through the crowd toward the restroom.
"Bastard, me too!"
Reminded by those heading to the restroom, many others finally realized they were in the same situation. They had not wanted to miss a single scene. When the urge came, they had simply held it until they no longer noticed.
...
After the movie finished, the audience still did not leave for a long time, instead discussing the film enthusiastically.
Only after most of the audience had dispersed did Kamiyā Yuu take Kamiyā Sora's hand and prepare to leave.
Seeing an audience member walking through the aisle, he smiled politely and stepped aside.
That audience member glanced at Kamiyā Yuu, turned away, and prepared to leave.
Then, after a moment, the person suddenly froze, rushed back in front of Kamiyā Yuu, stared at his face for a while, and asked uncertainly:
"Excuse me, are you Director Kamiyā Yuu?"
Whoa!
The sentence was heard by many nearby audience members. They all turned to look at Kamiyā Yuu in surprise. When they realized he looked exactly like the person introduced on 'Words of Celebrities,' they became excited.
"Mr. Kamiyā, your 'RWBY' was truly amazing! I'll always support you!"
"Director Kamiyā, I'm your loyal fan! I discovered your works because of 'Magical Girl Nanoha.' Could you please sign this T-shirt for me?"
An excited male otaku wearing a T-shirt printed with fan art of Nanoha and Fate pulled a black marker from his backpack and handed it to Kamiyā Yuu.
"Me too!"
"Please give me an autograph too!"
"We'll always support you!"
—Am I some kind of idol group?
Kamiyā Yuu did not know whether to laugh or cry. Helplessly glancing at Kamiyā Sora beside him, he held her hand and squeezed outward while explaining:
"If I keep staying here, I'll cause trouble for the theater. Anyone with questions or wanting an autograph can come outside with me."
Fortunately, while many audience members were his fans, they were not as fanatical as idol worshippers. After hearing Kamiyā Yuu's words, they consciously cooperated.
Kamiyā Yuu had not expected this decision to waste his entire afternoon.
After all, 'RWBY' had only just finished screening, and there were even more audience members and fans outside the theater.
Moreover, when one audience member posted Kamiyā Yuu's location on Twitter, even more fans of 'Magical Girl Nanoha' and 'RWBY' began rushing over.